Product of the Week

PromoCell GmbH

Wide Range of Cytokines & Growth Factors

PromoKine offers a huge and continuously growing range of recombinant cytokines, chemokines, growth factors, soluble receptors and CD antigens (human, mouse, rat) that are produced in E. coli, yeast, insect, plant or mammalian cells. They are highly purified, biologically active and stable and are available in standard and very economic bulk sizes.

PromoKine has also extended its range of animal-free cytokines and growth factors that are produced in plants and are thus free of animal components, serum, endotoxins and antibiotics. These are also free of human, animal or bacterial infectious agents as well as other endogenous mammalian agents that might cause unwanted cell responses. They show very low proteolytic, pyrogenic and inflammatory activity compared to other commercially available proteins. Moreover, they retain proper eukaryotic folding and glycosylation, resulting in increased stability and biological activity.

In addition, PromoKine offers a huge variety of high-quality antibodies and ELISAs for the analysis of cytokines and growth factors as well as other interesting targets in cell biology.

Beckman Coulter Life Sciences is expanding their flow cytometry portfolio with the addition of 14 new human monoclonal antibodies from Trillium Diagnostics LLC.

Trillium/Beckman Coulter

Beckman Coulter Life Sciences is expanding their flow cytometry portfolio with the addition of 14 new human monoclonal antibodies from Trillium Diagnostics LLC. The analyte specific reagents (ASRs) provide high specificity, convenience and flexibility in flow cytometry. A new cell permeabilization reagent is also being offered.

The new monoclonals include human anti-hemoglobin F, which recognizes a fetal hemogloblobin molecule; CD163 markers for anti-inflammatory signal and disease process research and CD64 markers, which react with Fc gamma receptors. Characterized, quality controlled, convenient, liquid reagents allow users to spend less time in sample preparation and more time on experiments.

Rounding out the line is a monoclonal for MNDA (myeloid nuclear differentiation antigen). All antibodies are available unconjugated or conjugated to a selection of fluorochromes. Intra-Cell™ concentrate for cell permeabilization is also being released.

Beckman Coulter Life Sciences offers an extensive line of human and non-human antibodies as well as a range of supporting reagents and immune monitoring products. The new antibodies are supplied in 1.0 mL of buffer, are ready to use and facilitate flexibility in experimental design.

“Convenience and specificity are important features for scientists,” said Mario Koksch, vice president and general manager for Beckman Coulter Life Sciences’ Flow Cytometry Business Unit. “These new antibodies are directed at important targets and will improve accuracy for researchers.”

A strategic partnership between the companies enables Beckman Coulter Life Sciences to further diversify their extensive flow cytometry reagent portfolio and Trillium Diagnostics to broaden the reach of their products in the global market.

Disposable PD-10 Desalting Columns offer an inexpensive and convenient alternative to lengthy and troublesome dialysis procedures. In minutes, biological samples are desalted and small molecular weight solutes are removed or exchanged with excellent recoveries of macromolecules.

GE-Healthcare

Fast, affordable, high-recovery desalting and buffer exchange, as well as removal of low-molecular weight compounds packed with Sephadex G-25 Medium.

Flexible protocols allow runs by gravity flow or centrifugation.

Easy to use and equilibrate; apply sample; elute.

Preparation of the samples in the range of 1.0 to 2.5 ml by gravity flow and 1.75 to 2.5 ml with centrifugation.

Desalt multiple samples in parallel with a desalting capacity > 90%.

Recovery in the range 70 to >95%.

The instructions for Disposable PD-10 Desalting Columns have been updated with two new application protocols: gravity or centrifugation, to increase the flexibility of the product. The gravity protocol allows a simple cleanup of samples with one or several columns in parallel, without the need for a purification system. The spin protocol enables runs in parallel in a standard centrifuge with minimal dilution of the eluted sample.Four adapters are included in each product pack to enable easy centrifugation. Together with LabMate PD-10 Buffer Reservoir, wash and equilibration buffer can be applied in one step with the gravity flow protocol. Empty PD-10 columns are recommended for use with bulk media for affordable and versatile sample preparation.

The Biometra GmbH, a company of the Analytik Jena AG, now offers illuminators with high-performance blue light LEDs for gel documentation purposes.

Biometra

Blue light transilluminators are a quite interesting alternative to UV tables as there is no risk of sample damage during illumination. This is important when samples shall be processed furthermore after gel documentation. Users also benefit from it as there is no risk of UV exposure. Blue light excitation is applicable for fluorescent dyes for nucleic acid or protein stains with excitation wavelength around 470 nm. Examples for compatible stains are: SYBR® Green, GelGreenTM, SYBR® Safe, SYBR® Gold or SYPRO® Ruby. The amber lid of the instrument allows the direct view to the fluorescent samples. There is no need for separate glasses. The new blue light illuminators are available in two versions: "BLstar 9", the handy solution for mini gels and "BLstar 16" for gels up to size of 16 cm x 20 cm.

Get large numbers of highly pure and fully functional M1 or M2 Monocyte-derived Macrophages (MDM) by simply plating PBMC in our PromoCell Macrophage Generation Medium DXF, which supports Macrophage differentiation with high efficiency and reliability.

PromoCell

The Macrophage Generation Medium DXF is available in two different versions: the M1 Macrophage Generation Medium DXF and the M2 Macrophage Generation Medium DXF. Each of them is specifically optimized for the directed differentiation of M1 or M2 macrophages, respectively. In addition, PromoCell has developed the Macrophage Detachment Solution DXF for gentle and efficient release of macrophages from the culture surface.

As with all of our DXF series media, the Macrophage Generation Medium DXF is chemically defined / xeno-free and thus provides a controlled culture environment devoid of animal component-derived stimuli - a significant benefit, in terms of Monocytes and Macrophages standing for highly reactive immune cells.

Laboratory equipment specialists MEDLINE SCIENTIFIC has introduced a range of micropipettes which are designed to provide optimal ease of use and assure a high level of user comfort during operation, minimising the risk of repetitive strain injury (RSI).

Medline

The Medline micropipette is manufactured in Germany, is CE-marked for IVD use and factory calibrated to dispense accurately under normal European ambient conditions (20° C, 50% humidity and 101Kpa barometric pressure). Individual micropipettes are supplied with a calibration and test certificate and they are tested twice and calibrated to conform to EN ISO 8655 and DIN 12650 standards.

Integral to the design of the variable volume pipette is an innovative soft grip and safety device on the thumb-controlled plunger. This feature prevents accidental volume changes during use facilitating maximum precision and accuracy. The universal two-step plunger allows reverse pipette techniques to be performed and enables last drop dispensing. This further contributes to a high level of accuracy in use.

Medline micropipettes may be safely autoclaved at 120°C and 1.05bar/15Psi for 15 minutes. Maintenance and adjustment are simple procedures as the user can readily re-calibrate the micropipette with the adjustment tool supplied. An operating manual is included with each instrument.

There are eight variable models covering volume ranges from 0.1 to 5000µl. A further fourteen fixed volume models compliment the range covering 5 to 10,000µl and 4 or 6 position bench racks are available for easy storage.

Molecular Devices®, market leader in microplate reader technology for over 25 years, has announced the launch of its SpectraMax® i3 Multi-Mode Detection Platform with SpectraMax® MiniMax® Imaging Cytometer.

Molecular Devices

The system is available as a stand-alone reader with the option for users to upgrade to additional applications and detection modes such as cellular imaging with the SpectraMax® MiniMax™ Imaging Cytometer, and cartridges for Time-Resolved Fluorescence, Fluorescence Polarization, and AlphaScreen® assays. The highly sensitive instrument accommodates the budget and throughput needs of both small and large laboratories alike.

The SpectraMax i3 Platform's base system features an integrated optical system enabling top and bottom reads for 6 - 384 well microplates and launches with three broad detection modes: luminescence, absorbance, and fluorescence. Patented user-exchangeable cartridge design expands the system's detection capability making it highly versatile, and able to offer application options far exceeding those of standard readers. The MiniMax Imaging Cytometer module adds first of its kind cellular imaging to a multi-mode detection platform, enabling fluorescence and bright field cellular imaging. Combining cellular imaging with microplate-based applications offers new ways for scientists to compress their workflows and increase efficiency.

Data from the SpectraMax i3 System is captured and analysed using Molecular Devices' proprietary, industry-leading SoftMax® Pro Software. The newly updated interface and Spectral Optimization Wizard simplifies the workflow and provides powerful data analysis features, eliminating the need for training on additional software. The SpectraMax i3 System is also available for use in GMP and GLP labs when used with the SoftMax® Pro 6.3 GxP Microplate Data Compliance Software.

Klaus Lun, Vice President of Product Marketing at Molecular Devices commented: "This new platform builds on Molecular Devices' experience in life science detection instrumentation development and our commitment to bring additional utility to the microplate reader, further compressing the workflows for our customers. With the MiniMax Imaging Cytometer for cellular imaging, Molecular Devices introduces a new world of cell-based assay application possibilities to the microplate reader. We will continue to expand the platform's functionality by adding new capabilities to the microplate reader through the introduction of application-specific detection cartridges in 2013."

The ImagEM X2 makes superfast exposures possible and has the sensitivity to provide visually pleasing and quantitatively meaningful images in a photon-starved environment. It delivers 70 frames/s at the full resolution of 512 x 512 pixels with a high signal-to-noise ratio, enabling quantitative high-speed, low-light imaging. When binning or a region of interest is selected, this new camera produces images at even higher frame rates (up to 1076 frames/s).

Additional features allow for optimized camera triggering and streamlined connectivity through IEEE 1394b. The ImagEM X2 also has improved overall signal-to-noise ratio, increased non-EM dynamic range, and built-in EM gain measurement and calibration functions. It also features a software-controllable shutter that prevents EM gain degradation and image lag. To prevent EM gain degradation, the shutter is closed when the built-in EM gain protection feature is enabled. In addition, closing the shutter when a user replaces a lens, for example, can prevent image lag.

PromoFectin facilitates the highly efficient and reproducible delivery of nucleic acids into a variety of cell types, including many hard-to-transfect cell lines and primary cells.

PromoCell

It is a stable non-liposomal polymer, that is water-soluble and free of any components of animal origin. PromoFectin shows very low toxicity and is therefore ideally suited for the transfection of sensitive cells, yielding optimal transfection efficiencies and gene expression. Transfection with PromoFectin requires no medium change and it can be used for adherent and non-adherent cells. It compacts and protects the nucleic acid of interest, enables efficient transport into cells via endocytosis and allows for a rapid and almost complete release of the intact nucleic acid into the cytosol – all of which favor delivery to the nucleus.

Special cell type specific PromoFectin variants are also available, which were developed for the efficient but gentle transfection of cells such as endothelial cells (e.g. primary HUVECs), hepatocytes, macrophages, or neuronal cells.

PromoKine also offers ready-to-use kits for fast and convenient detection and quantification of reporter gene expression including the commonly used reporter proteins luciferase (Firefly & Renilla), beta-galactosidase (reporter assay & staining kits) and GFP. The kits are highly sensitive, easy to handle and yield reproducible results. Substrates for the luciferase and beta-galactosidase assays are also available separately.

In addition, PromoKine provides a range of small-sized reporter plasmids (beta-galactosidase, luciferase, GFP, CAT, SEAP) as well as fusion plasmids, which allow high-level expression of a target gene of interest with a GFP or luciferase fusion tag at its C- or N-terminus.

Total RNA from multiple species – including mammalian, plant and yeast samples – has been validated using the automated process. The scalable, high throughput service allows processing from one to hundreds of samples without compromising quality.

“Automated processing of RNA-Seq using the Biomek platform provides high quality data, and accommodates projects from small to large,” said Bernhard Spiess, vice president of sales and marketing, Beckman Coulter Genomics. “We are very pleased with this enhanced service and the ability to provide scientists with reliable, reproducible results in a timely manner.”

Technical experts in the company’s genomics services group utilize extensive experience to provide highly reliable data. Typical turnaround time is four to seven weeks after sample receipt. For more information about this service, please visit www.beckmangenomics.com/rna-seq

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